Free Trader Beowulf 2.0

Just in case there's someone who hasn't seen it elsewhere :)

beowulf-v2-02.jpg
 
B E A you-tiful.

Are your skills improving Andrew? Other then the nose and windows, it's starting to look close to photographic (a.i. it could pass for a photograph of a model someone made, very real looking).
 
Sturn said:
B E A you-tiful.

Are your skills improving Andrew? Other then the nose and windows, it's starting to look close to photographic (a.i. it could pass for a photograph of a model someone made, very real looking).

Thanks! Yeah, I think this is my best work so far.
 
I like. In fact as one of those folks with the Artistic ability, of a rock, I demand more, so that I may populate my game, with pretty things.

~Rex
 
/me is waiting for the "scenery shot" of this, so he can snarf it for a Freelance Traveller cover... 8)
 
andrew boulton said:
BP said:
Nice! I think I've seen the 1.0 version before!

Curious what app(s) you are using?

Cinema 4D - http://www.maxon.net/
Have heard good things about that one - have you used others and chosen this one specifically?
 
BP said:
andrew boulton said:
BP said:
Nice! I think I've seen the 1.0 version before!

Curious what app(s) you are using?

Cinema 4D - http://www.maxon.net/
Have heard good things about that one - have you used others and chosen this one specifically?

Yes and no - years ago I got an older edition free with a mag, which got me a cheaper upgrade and hooked me. I have tried lots of others, though, and it compares well. It's fast, stable, powerful, and very easy to use. The only downside is fewer people use it, so there's less support.
 
Thanks for the feedback - I'm gonna try it out...

Coming from a CAD/progamming background, I prefer parametric modelling over direct polygon - I'm looking to find one that fits my purposes...
 
Don't forget 'SketchUp' (from Google), it's easy to use and above all free for the basic programme... and almost every architectural practice on the planet can't be all wrong (well, maybe).
 
Lord High Munchkin said:
Don't forget 'SketchUp' (from Google), it's easy to use and above all free for the basic programme... and almost every architectural practice on the planet can't be all wrong (well, maybe).
Oh, its a fine program - I used its commercial predecessor - the design interface being very much along the lines of what I would create (I found it in a patent search years ago).

I've seen some really great output when run through various renderers. But, I haven't seen a single good looking photorealistic spaceship made from it. In fact, none of the models I've seen from it have seemed very detailed in terms of discete items...

IIRC it does lack Boolean operations, metaballs and maybe lathing; only supports bitmap texturing - no shaders; and, the free version also has limited print resolution.

Not sure about that 'architectural practice' comment - especially for commercial architecture firms... maybe for residential building? The pro version is much better geared for this and there is plenty of established competition at that level.

On the free end - Blender is very nice as well (though harder to use). And I have seen some nice spaceships created from it...
 
BP said:
I've seen some really great output when run through various renderers. But, I haven't seen a single good looking photorealistic spaceship made from it.

The free version of Sketchup is toted as a "NPR" or nonphotorealistic rendering program. It wasn't intended to be photorealistic, but "hand drawn", so yes that would explain why you aren't seeing much in the way of photorealistic spaceships made with it. It wasn't designed to make them.

From my understanding you need Sketchup Pro to export to most other software renderers. Traveller fans probably aren't using the $400 version.

For those using the free version, I was told these renderers work well (never done it myself) with basic Sketchup: SU Podium and IDX Renditioner are plugins for rendering that work within Sketchup. Artlantis R is supposed to work well with Sketchup as a seperate rendering program. I believe they all cost $.

So, Traveller fans probably aren't using them either and you are left with "hand drawn" looking spaceships, not photorealism. But, its arguably the easiest and most supported FREE 3D software out there.

BP said:
Not sure about that 'architectural practice' comment - especially for commercial architecture firms... maybe for residential building?

Aidan Chopra of Google said:
Before it was acquired in 2006 by Google, SketchUp cost $495 a copy, and it was already a mainstay of architects' and other designers' software tookits.

This may be referring to the "pro" version of SketchUp more then the free version.
 
Ah, I use the Pro version... that would explain it.

The amount of detail you can get is purely down to the power of the computer used, I've seen recreations of 17th century windmills down to the individual dowels!
 
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